Table 3 The use of imaging of headache patients among general practitioners. All figures are numbers (%)
|  | All (N = 367) |
|---|---|
Do you usually use CT/MRI for the following? | |
 All new-onset headache (not acute) | |
  Yes | 23 (6) |
  No | 344 (94) |
 Headache not responding to treatment | |
  Yes | 308 (84) |
  No | 59 (16) |
 Headache with focal neurological symptoms | |
  Yes | 362 (99) |
  No | 5 (1) |
 Worsening of a pre-existent headache | |
  Yes | 236 (64) |
  No | 131 (36) |
 If patients have concerns and anxiety about brain tumor or other intracranial pathology | |
  Yes | 228 (62) |
  No | 139 (38) |
 Neck pain with concomitant headache | |
  Yes | 52 (14) |
  No | 315 (86) |
How often do you? | |
 Use CT for new-onset headache (not acute headache) | |
   > 2/3 times | 7 (2) |
  1/2 times | 19 (5) |
   < 1/3 times | 341 (93) |
 Use MRI for new-onset headache (not acute headache) | |
   > 2/3 times | 66 (18) |
  1/2 times | 56 (15) |
   < 1/3 times | 245 (67) |
 Use CT for long-lasting headaches | |
   > 2/3 times | 17 (5) |
  1/2 times | 24 (7) |
   < 1/3 times | 326 (89) |
 Use MRI for long-lasting headaches | |
   > 2/3 times | 103 (28) |
  1/2 times | 69 (19) |
   < 1/3 times | 195 (53) |
 Find CT useful in headache investigations | |
   > 2/3 times | 41 (11) |
  1/2 times | 36 (10) |
   < 1/3 times | 290 (79) |
 Find MRI useful in headache investigations | |
   > 2/3 times | 153 (42) |
  1/2 times | 64 (17) |
   < 1/3 times | 150 (41) |
 Use CT or MRI to alleviate a patient’s concerns/anxiety about tumor cerebri or other intracranial pathology | |
   > 2/3 times | 72 (20) |
  1/2 times | 75 (20) |
   < 1/3 times | 220 (60) |